Improvement in indicators for steamboat-engines



L. SHOCK. INDICATORS FOR STEAMBOAT-ENGINES.

Patented Aug. 21,1877.

N. PETERS, FHOTO-LITHUGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D

UNITED STATES PA ENT firmer LEVI SHOOK, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND T PATTERSON 82; BISHOP.

IMPROVEMENT IN INDICATORS FOR STEAMBO AT-ENGINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 194,475, dated August 21, 1877 application filed June 19, 1877.

illustrate the attachment of devices which may beemployed in carrying out my inventlon.

My invention relates to devices for indicating to the pilot of a steamer, or party similarly situated, the motion of the engines, whether at rest, backing, or going ahead; and consists in connecting an indicator, located wlthin the pilot-house or like position, with the eccentric-rod or reversing-lever of the engine by means of suitable intermediate mechanism, so that every change of position of the rod or lever is indicated at the desired point.

At the present, so far as I am advised, the pilot of asteaniboat, or person similarly placed, has no definite means of knowing the motion of the engine, whetherbacking or going ahead, and it frequently happens when the usual signals are given that they are misunderstood by the engineer, and this mistake is not discovered by the pilot until the boat is underway, so that accidents involving loss of life and property are of frequent occurrence.

()ne object, then, of the present invention is to give the pilot means for ascertaining at once whether his signals have been understood and obeyed.

I will now proceed to describe-my invention,

' so that others skilled in the art to which it appertains may apply the same.

A indicates the deck of a boat, and B the pilot-house. Within the pilot-house I arrange an indicator, 0, which, for purposes of illustration, may be a box or like hollow support, having a hinged top, 0, and a rod, 0, for operating the top 0. At suitable points between the indicator or pilot-house and the engines are arranged two or more angle-pieces or elbow-levers, D D, and to the first of which, D, the rod 0 is secured, so as to be operated thereby, and the several angle-pieces of the series are pivoted, as at 'i, and connected by cords or wires, as at w, in the usual manner of bell-hanging. The last angle-piece or elbow-lever D is connected, by a link or rod, 0, to the eccentric or cam rod E of the engine,

or to the reversing-lever F, if preferred, at a point or points which will give the requisite motion to actuate rod 0' through the intermediate an gle-pieces and connecting-wires.

In addition to the above-described connections, which are all that are required on lowpressure engines, I connect one of the anglepieces or elbow-levers D with the lever s, which operates the receiving-valves when a highpressure engine is employed, so that the indicator will be operated therefrom in shifting the valve'or stopping the engines.

The connections between the indicator and the eccentric rod may be made or arranged in any desired manner; but, in the present instance, they are such that the top 0 is down upon its seat when the engine is going ahead, partially raised when the engine is stopped, and still farther raised when the engine is reversed or backing.

The advantages of my invention are that the pilot of the boat is always kept advised of the motion of the engines, and can thus, to a great extent, guard against mistakes and accidents arising therefrom.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In combination with the reversing devices of an engine, an indicator placed in the pilothouse or a similar position, and intermediate mechanism, substantially as specified, for operating the indicator from the eccentric rod or lever.

In testimony whereof I,the said LEVI SHOOK, of Pittsburg, countyof Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have hereunto set my hand.

LEVI SHOCK.

Witnesses:

JAMES I. KAY, JOHN K. SMITH. 

